Secret pocket billfold



Oct. 23, 1945. M EKE 2,387,490

SECRET POCKET BILLFOLD Filed April 3, 1944 Elma/rm (15:28:32. ,Bqq er I Patented a. 23, 1945 2,387,490 SECRET POCKET BILLFOLD Milton Becker, Passaic, N. J. Application April 3, 1944, Serial No. 529,340

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to improvements in billfolds generally, and has for one of its objects to provide a billfold with a secret pocket for the retention within the same of papers of value, especially bank notes of a higher value than those that are preferably carried within the usual compartment or pocket for pick and easy access.

Another object of the invention has to do with the equipping of the removable wall, or stay, of certain multi-pocketed billfolds, with a pocket which will be secreted when the wall or stay is put in place within the billfold.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides in the certain new and useful rangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Referring to the drawing, the billfold, as it is exemplified therein, is comprised in an outer wall ll, having a central transverse line of fold, as at l2, to either side of which are inwardly opening end pockets l3 and M, that are secured by lines of stitching l5 and [6 to the end and bottom side edges, respectively, of the wall H.

To close the space between the inner open ends of the pockets [3, l4, and to form a main bank note receiving compartment or pocket between these end pockets and the front or outer wall H, a strip of flexible material H, which may match the material from which the outer wall is made, is provided and has its ends inserted into the end pockets for its retention in parallel relation with the outer wall II. This strip l1 has a width equal to that of the interiors of the end pockets l3, l4, and is of a length such that its opposite ends extend within the pockets to substantially the full depths thereof. This billfold structure is more or less conventional and, of itself, does not constitute the invention.

, In carrying outthe invention, however, the inner wall or stay H, which may have its outer side made to a finish corresponding to that of the outer face of the wall ll if desired, has an end portion l8 made to a somewhat reduced width and semi-elliptical in contour. This end portion it constitutes the bank note retaining element of the secret pocket and has an elongated strip IQ, of the same or a similarmaterial, positioned crosswise of its inner side, with a central portion of the inner side edge of the strip secured, as by a line of stitching 22, to the stay l1 along the base line of the end portion l8. The strip I! has itsends projecting equally, or subcombination, construction and arstantially so, from the opposite side edges of the end portion l8, andis of an area approximating that of the paper money of the United States.

In this arrangement, the end portion 18, of the stay I1, constitutes a flap or tongue that overlies central portions of bank notes or the like placed lengthwise on the strip lB-and is effective in retaining the bank notes in place.

' With the portion l8 so positioned, the end portions 20, 2|,

of the strip l9, projecting beyond the opposite side edges of the end portion is, together with those of the bank notes, will be folded over, in overlapping relation, and onto the outer or upper side of the end portion Hi to complete the secret pocket. A secret of these pockets (not shown) may be provided at the opposite end of the stay strip ll, if desired, and, in either case, when the stay strip is in assembly with the other parts of the billfold, as before stated, the secret pocket, or pockets, will be concealed within the end pockets l3, 14, of the billfold.

From this description of the invention, it will be readily apparent that a billfold embodying these secret pockets will have the advantage of housing bank notes of large denominations apart from thoseof smaller denominations positioned in the usual bill receiving compartment, so that ready access can be had to the latter, without exposing the former to view and thus avoid possible hold up and theft.

What I claim is:

1. A billfold including an elongated body foldable on the line of its transverse center, inwardly opening pockets secured at their closed ends and at their lower side edges to the end and lower side edges of the body, and a stay strip extending lengthwise of the inner side of the body and having its ends inserted within the end pockets, in combination with a secret pocket carried on a housed end of the stay strip, said secret pocket comprising an elongated strip of a flexible material positioned crosswise of an end portion of the stay strip and adapted to have its oppositely projecting portions folded in overlapping relation upon said end portion, said end portion of the stay strip made of a lesser width than that of the remaining part thereof and shaped to have a substantially semi-elliptical contour, and the attached edge portion of the elongated strip being secured to the stay strip along the base line of said end portion thereof by a line of stitching.

2. A billfold, including an elongated body foldable on the line of its transverse center, inwardly opening pockets secured at their closed ends and at their lower side edges to the end and lower side edges of the body, and a stay strip extending lengthwise of the having its ends inserted inner side of the body and within the end pockets,

a. housed end of the stay strip, said secret pocket strip of flexible material greater in length than the width ofthe stay strip and? disposed-with; its intermediate; portion extending transversely of and completely-overlapping an end portion of the stay strip, said intermediate portion of the flexible strip having that edge remote from the free end of said end of the stay'strip; a

' MILTON BECKER.

retaining element of said secret 1 

